Yorkshire Dales Cottages Development

As soon as you arrive in the Yorkshire Dales you will realise that it is a special area with a unique feel and atmosphere. A large part of this obviously has to do with the stunning natural scenery and local hospitality, but another factor which can’t be ignored is the charm which the traditional Dales architecture lends to the region.

Rather than simply being a visually interesting feature of the landscape, the Yorkshire Dales buildings can actually form an important part of a holiday in the area, as visitors can stay in typical cottages and visit old mills during their stay. This means that learning a little more about the subject is a good idea which can help you get more out of the holiday.

When you choose to stay in a modern and well equipped cottage it is easy to forget that many of these scenic buildings were practical homes and places of work for generations of Dales residents who lived a tough life, eking out an existence from the land and yet still making the effort to build lovely stone cottages which are a fine blend of practicality and good aesthetic qualities.

The most typical type of Dales cottage is built with local stone and often has beamed ceilings and stone floors. This kind of property is found throughout the region and typically dates from the 17th or 18th century, with almost all of them having benefitted from recent refurbishments which have added modern comforts without losing the feel of a heritage building.

Many of these cottages actually started out life as some other type of structure, with many barns in particular having been converted into living quarters in recent times. A lot of these buildings have interesting histories which can be discovered by speaking to the owner or by investigating the local history.

The region’s importance as an historic hotspot ensures that modifications to existing buildings and the building of new structures is a matter which is taken very seriously. While this air of carefully controlled conservation helps the Yorkshire Dales maintain a unique, dignified charm it would be a mistake to consider the towns and villages contained in it to be museum pieces.

Thriving towns such as Muker, Masham and Skipton – which was recently voted as the UK’s best shopping district – may have a timeless feel to them but the stone cottages and cobbled streets which abound hide a vibrant and exciting modern life manage the trick of combining heritage with modern pleasures.

By: Louise Chadwick

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Louise Chadwick is an expert on travel and tourism. For tips and advice on Yorkshire Dales Cottages please visit www.yorkshire.com.